McLaren MP4-22 - sidepod front winglets01 March 2007

Until recently McLaren were one of the few teams not sporting large vertical winglets, or shields, in front of the sidepods. They finally introduced their interpretation of these elements (red arrow) at the recent Bahrain test. With a less rounded leading edge than many rivals' equivalents, they are also unusual in that they connect to the foremost edge of the elongated cooling chimneys, which also act as a kind of turning vane atop the sidepods. The new shields help manage airflow in the critical area in front of the radiator inlets, hence improving cooling whilst raising aero efficiency through reduced turbulence and increased downforce.

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